Support for running-boards of freight-cars.



W. A. BREWER. SUPPORT FOR RUNNING BOARDS` 0F FREIGHT CARS.

` Patented July 6 APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25. 1914.

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' W. A. BREWER.

SUPPORT FOR RUNNING BOARDS 0F FREIGHT CARS.

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H ETS-S Patented w1 i am 1E. xL i k x TN d W/ ///////////d APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25| 1914.

WIJLIM A. BREWER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TG P. H. MURPHY GQMINY., OI? PARNASSUS, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

SUPPORT FOR RUNNING-BOARDS 0F FREIGHT-CARS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 25, 1914. Serial No. 873,921.

To all whom t may concern Be it .known that I, lfVILLIAM A. BREWER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Supports for the Running-Boards of Freight-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for supporting the running boards commonly se.- cured to the roofs of freight cars, and particularly to devices for supporting running boards on a metal car roof.

The running boards of freight cars are commonly supported by saddles to which they are fastened, and which saddles in turn are fastened to the roof substructure. These saddles are held .from movement by the running boards and bear directly upon the roof sheets, and any movement of the roof sheets relative to the car substructure causes the saddles to rub the roof sheets and wear the galvanizing coating of the roof sheets.` In order to lessen injury to the roof sheets wooden saddles are used, and the running boards are secured to these wooden saddles by nails or screws. It is desirable to make the saddles of a softwood, like yellow pine, because hard woods, like oak, emit acids which injure the galvanizing coating of thev roof sheets. The nails or screws which fasten the running boards to the saddles are not` suili'ciently secure fastenings, particularly when the saddles are made of a soft wood; and they often work loose, thus makv ing the runway dangerousfor trainmen because ofthe projecting end of a nail or screw, or the loose end of a running board. Metallic running board saddles, while they permit the running boards to be bolted more securely vto them, are objectionable because they wear the roof sheets.

My invention has for one of its objects' to obviate the objectionable features above mentionedand to provide a cheap and durable supporting means for the running boards of. railway cars which will hold the running boards lsecurely in place and prevent them from working loose, and which will `not injure the galvanizing coating of the roof sheets, or cramp or bind the seams of the roof sheets. j

A further object is an arrangement of supports for running boards which enables the running boards to be easily and cheaply assembled and secured together, either on or olf of the car, and readily-mounted upon the car, removed therefrom and replaced as often as need be.

.still further object is to support the running boards vand fasten them to the roof substructure in a way which will not allow water to leak into thecar.

Further objects are to attain certain adyantages which will appear more fully herelnafter.

Generally stated, the invention consists in an arrangementof running boards and supporting members therefor 'wherein therunning boards are secured to metal Supporting members which are supported by wooden saddle blocks resting upon the roof of the car and movable with respect to the running boards, said saddle blocks and said supporting members being secured to the roof substructure. l

The invention further consists in the parts, and in the arrangements and combinations of parts which will be set' forth more fully hereinafter. v

Referring to the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and 1n' which like reference characters refer to like parts in the several views, Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of a car roof construction embodying the invention, parts of the running boards'being broken away; Fig. 2 is al vertical longitudinal section through a car roof at one side of the ridge, showing the running boards and supports in side elevation; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the lineB-S in Fig. l; Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line {l-4 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the running boards and supports, showing the running boards detached from the car roof, the cross-plate to which the running boards are secured being shown in elevation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown applied to an outside carroof comprising roof sheathing 1 and metal roof sheets 2. rlhe roof sheets '2 extend from the ridge to the eaves and are Patented duly 6, i915.

joined along their side margins by upstand- 3,

Resting upon the roof sheets 2 are wooden saddle blocks 6, preferably of a soft wood like yellow pine. There is one of these 'saddle blocks 6 over each side seam 3. The saddle blocks 6 are shaped to conform to the pitch of the roof` and have suitable grooves porting member 7 and the correspondingv saddle blocks 6 constitute a support for the running boards of the car. There are sevl eral such runnin board'supports throughout the length o Ithe car, but as their construction is the same, a description of one .will suliice for all. Each supporting member 7 is strengthened by a downwardly projecting longitudinal corrugation 8. Each supporting member 7 has at each end thereof an endl flange 9 which projects downwardly adjacent to 'the outer side of the saddle block 6 upon which the corresponding end portion ofl the supporting member 7 is supported. Each end portion of the su porting member 7v which rests upon tffe saddle blocks 6 has a narrow downwardly projecting Hange 10 along veach edge thereof. The flanges 10 tit loosely in grooves 11 eX- tending transversely of the saddle blocks.

The saddle blocks 6 and the supporting member 7 are held in place by'bolts 12 which extend downwardly through the ridge pole .of the car. There is one bolt 12 for each saddle block 6. The heads of the bolts 12 are countersunk into conical depressions 13 pressed into the supporting member 7 said depressions lbeing preferably reamed to tthe heads of the bolts tightly. The conical depressions 13 are seated in corresponding recesses located in the tops of the saddle blocks 6,. Thesaddle blocks 6 have their middle portions cut away slightly to receive the end portions of the supporting members 7, the top` faces of said saddle blocks, said end portions, and the heads of the boltsl 12 being flush with each other. yMidway between the ends of each support- -ing member 7 'are two elongated holes or slots 14. A j

The running boards 15 are secured to a metal cross-plate or strap 16 by stove-bolts 17 whose heads are countersunk into the running boards 15.-l Triangular humps or protuberances 18 are pressed upwardly from each cross-plate 16 along each longitudinal edge` thereof, said humpslS being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the width 'of the running boards 15. The cross-plate 16 rests uponvthe supporting member 7 between the ends thereof, the middle portion of said supporting members 7 being de` pressed a distance corresponding to the through the middle running board 15, the

cross-plate 16 and the slots 14 in the supc.porting members 7 *are stove-bolts 19 whose heads are countersunk into the middle running board 15. The bolts 19 secure the cross-plate 16 and the running boards 15 to the supporting member 7.

In applying the running boards to the car roof, the saddle blocks 6 and the supportin members 7 are first applied, and the bo ts 12 holding said saddle blocks and said supporting members in place are tightened. The running boards are bolted to the cross-plates 16 on the ground or in some other suitable place, the humps 18 facilitating this operation by spacing the running boards on the cross-plates 16 so that the bolts 17 can be easily inserted. The crossplates 16, together with the running boards 15 secured thereto, are then raised to the car roof and placed upon the saddle blocks 6 and the supporting members 7. The bolts 19 may be easily passed downward through the slots 14 in the supporting members 7, the length of the slots 14 allowing for any inaccuracy in securing the cross-plates ,16 to the running boards at proper distances apart. After the nuts have been placed on the bolts 19, these nuts may be held b v a wrench or other suitable means, and the bolts tightened from above by a screwdriver. In this w-ay the runnixi boards can be quickly and cheaply applic since it is not necessary to tighten any nuts in the limited space between the car roof and the under faces of the running boards.

In the construction shown and hereinbefore described, the running boards are not secured directly to wooden saddle blocks 6; and consequently said saddlepblocks may be made of some soft wood, without there being any danger that the running boards will work loose. Since each wooden saddle block 6 has only one bolt passing through it, these saddle blocks are not injured by attaching or detaching the running boards, and may be used more than once.l The supporting members 7 and the cross-plates 16, being of metal, may also be used more than once.

In the construction shown and hereinbefore described,.- the heads of the bolts 12 which secure the saddle blocks to the root` substructure are protected by the middle running board 15. The heads of the bolts 12 make a tight joint of metal against metal with the conical depressions 13I in the supporting members 7. This joint is not affected by the swelling or shrinking of the wooden saddle blocks 6. The end lianges Sl andthe side flanges 10 of the end portions amante .of the supporting memberstv prevent Water from Working underneath said end portions and down around the bolts 12 into the car. The construction shown and hereinbefore 'described gives additional support to the running. boards between the saddle blocks, and enables thinner running boards to be Vused if desired.

Sometimes the frame of acar in service becomes distorted so that thereof is bowed upor down longitudinally of the car. rlbe tendency of the running boards is, however, to remain level and as the saddles are moved up -orpdown out of line, severe stresses are p aced upon the devices 'which fasten the running boards to the saddles, and these fastening devices soon become loosened. In

the construction shown and hereinbefore descifibed the running boards are not directly secured toA thesaddle blocks 6 but are fastened to the sheet metal supporting members 7, Which in turn are supported by said saddle blocks. These supporting members 7- are slightly resilient, and as the car roof bows up or down, they canyield and relieve the fastening bolts 17 of severe stresses.

Sometimes the frame of the car will be thrown out of square, that is, the side plates will move longitudinally relative to each other. The roof sheets are commonly joined by flexible or loose seams in order to permit l the roof sheets to adjust themselvesao the distorted 'shape of the car frame. ln the construction commonly used, wherein the running boards are fastened directly to the running boardsaddlesk the .running boards keep the saddles .in a fixed' position transversely ofthe car; and sometimes, as the roof sheets shift upon the roof substructure, the seamsthereof pressagainst the runnin-g board saddles and are crushed or distorted.

In the construction shown and hereinbefore described, however, the saddle blocks 6 may turn about the bolts l2 and more with .the roof sheets. The end flanges 9 of the supporting members 7 are spaced from the saddle blocks 6 to permit limited movement of the saddle blocks relative to the support ing members. Likewise, the side flanges l0 of the supporting members Tai-e loose in the grooves ll of the saddle blocks (i to permit the same movement.

The construction shown and hereinbefore described may be considerably changed with out departing from the invention., and l do not Wish to be limited to the details of this construction.

`What l claim is:

l'. running board support for freight cars comprising saddle blocks resting upon the roof of the car, a `supporting member supported by said saddle blocks at their middles, means for securing said saddle roof substructure, and .means for securing running boards'to said supporting member.

2. A running board support for freight cars comprising wooden saddle blocks resting upon the roof of the car, a metal supporting member supported by said saddle blocks, each saddle block and the corresponding end of said supporting member being fastened to the .roof substructure, and means for fastening running boards to said supporting member, said running boards being supported on said saddle blocks and said supporting member.

3. A runway for freight cars comprising a plurality of saddle blocks supported on the roof of Ithe car, a plurality of resilient mem bers each supported by a number of said saddle blocks, and'running boards secured to said members betweensaid saddle blocks, l sald runnlng boards being movable on said saddle blocks.

Jr. A running board support for freight cars comprising saddle blocks resting upon the roof of the car, a supporting member supported by said saddle blocks,l and bolts fdr fastening running boards to` said supporting member, said ybolts having slotted heads and being accessible from above the running boards.

5. A. running board support for freight cars comprising a metal supporting member supported by Wooden saddle blocks which rest upon the roof of the car, said supporting member and said saddle blocks being secured to the roof substructure, a plate to which the running boards are. secured, and means for Afastening said plate to said supporting member.

6. A running board support for freight cars comprising Wooden saddle blocks resting upon the roof of the car, a metal supporting member supported by said saddle blocks, and bolts passing through said blocks and said supporting member and fastened to the roof substructure, said bolts having their heads fitting tightly in depressions in said supporting member.

T. A ruiming board support for freight cars comprising Wooden saddle blocks resting upon the roof of the car, a metal sup.

cars comprising a metal supporting member supported at its ends by wooden saddle blocks, a bolt passing through each saddle block andsaid supporting member near the.

corresponding end thereof, said bolt being fastened to the roof substructure, the end portions of said supporting member which the roof of the car', a supporting member supported by said saddle blocks, each saddle 4block being fastened by a bolt to the roof substructure,- said bolts also securing said supporting member to said saddles, and

lmeans for fasteningrunning boards to said supporting member, said saddle blocks being rotatable about said bolts relative to the running boards.

12. A running board support for freight cars comprising Wooden saddle blocks-resting upon the roof of thecar, and a pressed lsteel supporting member supported at its ends by said saddle blocks, the end portions of said supporting member which rest upon said saddle block having a downwardly projecting flange along each edge thereof and a downwardly projecting flange at the outer end thereof, said end portions of said supporting member being above the middle portion thereof.

13. A running board support for freight cars comprising saddle blocks resting on the roof of thel car, a supporting member supported by said saddle blocks, each of said saddle blocks being secured to the roof substructure by one bolt, said bolts passing through said supporting member, and means for securing running boards to said-supporting member.

les. A' running board support for freight cars comprising wooden saddle blocks'rest ing on the roof of the car, supporting member of pressed steel supported by said saddle blocks, each of said saddle blocks being secured to the roof substructure by one bolt, said bolts passing through said sup* nieuwe porting inember, a metal plate detachably secured. to said supporting member, and mlcans for fastening running boards to said n ate.

15. A runway for freight cars comprising a plurality of wooden saddle blocks resting on the roof of the car, a plurality of metal supporting members each supported by a' number of said saddle blocks, each of said saddle blocks being secured to the roof substructure by a bolt which passes through the corresponding supporting member, and means for fastening running boards to Said supporting members.

16. A runway for freight cars comprising a plurality of saddle blocks resting on the roof of the car, each of said saddle blocks being secured to the roof substructure by one bolt, and means for fastening ruiming boards to said saddle blocks, said means permitting said saddle blocks to turn about said bolts relatively to said running boards. 17. A runway for freight cars comprising a plurality of saddle blocks resting on the roof of the car, a plurality of metal support-- ing members supported by said saddle blocks, each of said saddle blocks being secured tothe roof substructure by a bolt which passes through the corresponding supporting member, said bolts having conical heads, the holes in said supporting members through which said bolts pass being conical and reamed to i'it the heads of said bolts tightly, and means for fastening running boards to said supporting members.

18. A running board support for freight cars comprising two wooden saddle blocks resting on the roof of the car, a supporting member of pressed steel supported by said saddle blocks and having the middle portion thereof below the end portions thereof, each of said saddle blocks being fastened to the roof 'substructure by one bolt which passes through said supporting member, the heads of said bolts fitting tightly in the holes therefor in said supporting member, a plate ito which the running boards are fastened,

and detachable means for securing said plate to said supporting member.

Signed atlittsburgh, Pa., this 20th 'day of November, 1914.

W'LLAM A BREWER;

lWitnesses FRANK W. Weert', JOHN l?. Desaioun.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, G. 

